"Get Into the Bible"
by Motte Brown on 03/30/2009 at 11:22 AM
I found this video over at Justin Taylor's Between Two Worlds. It's of Christian theologian J.I. Packer telling new believers how to begin a Christian life.
JI Packer Speaks To New Christians from Mike Anderson on Vimeo.
I loved his encouragement for new Christians to "get into the Bible." The older you are when the Lord calls, you'll find yourself literally "between two worlds," the one you are entering and the one you are leaving behind. And it's not always an easy transition. Your thinking, habits, relationships, etc., are changing. Some changes the Lord affects as He speaks to your spirit through his Word and through prayer. Other changes come through the benefit of Christian fellowship.
What's interesting is that the encouragement Packer gives -- reading through the Bible each year, keeping up a sense of being in God's presence through daily prayer, joining a church "team" to encourage each other to "play better" -- are all things which should describe seasoned Christians. Does it describe you?
1. Tami said the following at 12:02 PM on Mar 30:
I think reading through the Bible every year is helpful, admirable, and beneficial. There's something very fresh about reading through the Word without "picking and choosing" where you decide to be each day. Plus, this daily practice builds discipline. Also, it's important to be sure we've read through *every book of the Bible*, not just our favorites -- whether those are the gospels, or the Psalms, or whichever.
That said, I'm reluctant to make reading through the Bible every year a "should," as this is not something specifically given to us in Scripture as a mandate [unless -- and I mean this sincerely, not sarcastically -- I've missed something?]. Instead, I would encourage a more general call to daily Bible reading, and encouragement to let God lead you to what you should be studying (whether that's through your personal prayer, the leadership of a discipler/mentor/Bible study leader -- or, yes, reading through the Bible in a year!).
The other practices mentioned here -- Yes, they *are* a part of normal Christian life, and I'm growing in them daily. :)
2. Rachael said the following at 12:45 PM on Mar 30:
The total Bible can be read on cassette tapes in 72 hours...So, I suppose if you didn't have to live, you could read it 121.7-122 times a year, (depending on whether or not it's leap year). :)
3. Sam said the following at 1:15 PM on Mar 30:
J.I. Packer is a genius. Seriously.
4. Christina (in green) said the following at 1:26 PM on Mar 30:
My favorite bible reading discipline that i've come across so far is where the entire church is reading the same chapters every day.
And then the sermon on Sunday was built around the week's readings.
It wasn't a straight read through of the bible...the guy would start with a Gospel and we would read through that as a church, then we would go to the rest of the new testament straight through (no skipping), and then an old testament book. Rinse/Repeat.
I loved it.
In the pastor's opinion, growing together as a church started in our private walks with God, as well.
5. Motte Brown said the following at 1:35 PM on Mar 30:
How embarrassing it is to misquote someone and have it as the title. Forgive me everyone. Forgive me Mr. Packer.
6. BDB said the following at 1:56 PM on Mar 30:
Ha ha! I thought the article was about some sort of media bubble.
It's good to read the entire Bible. You need to read Leviticus to understand Hebrews, for example.
Christina (in green)'s example (#4) is excellent - I'm going to suggest that to my pastor.
7. Josh Deng said the following at 7:24 PM on Mar 30:
this is cool! I didn't know the guy was still alive...anyhow, this is a great exhortation.
8. O from Canada said the following at 8:40 PM on Mar 30:
#4 Christina (in green) I really like that idea, I'm also going to have to suggest that like BDB said.
9. Christopher from Albuquerque said the following at 11:24 PM on Mar 30:
To say that J.I. Packer's books have deeply impacted my life is an understatement. Any Christian who is able to read who has not already read Knowing God should do so as soon as possible. What an incredible work!
Thank you for the exhortation to daily, consistent Bible reading and prayer, Dr. Packer! I don't know if you will ever read this comment, but your advice to new Christians is just as valuable to those of us who are "older" in the faith but sadly, not always as disciplined as we should be. Thank you, most of all, for reminding us that such spiritual discipline is simply part and parcel of a loving relationship with a holy, majestic, and personally loving God!
10. Christopher from Albuquerque said the following at 11:37 PM on Mar 30:
I should also add that I am touched by the gentleness and kindness of Dr. Packer's spirit in this video. He truly displays the fruit of the Spirit in a way, and to a degree, to which I aspire.
11. Keith said the following at 10:29 AM on Mar 31:
I love the book the J.I. Packer wrote, "Knowing God".....every time I read it I find new wisdom. That guy is someone who needs to be listened to.
12. Matthew said the following at 10:47 AM on Mar 31:
Packer is awesome. Thanks for sharing this!
13. Rachael said the following at 12:32 PM on Mar 31:
Packer does come across very kind and humbly gentle in this video clip. It's so nice. I hope I can be something like that when I 'grow up'.
14. Kyle said the following at 1:30 PM on Mar 31:
What a refreshing, straightforward call to proceed in Christian living. That was a great encouragement and challenge to me as an ever-growing Christian.